Aeroplane



Sept. 24, 1929. G. E. MOUNCE AEROPLANE Filed Nov. 25, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. l v @ZM I) v IATTORNEY. Y

Sept. 24, 1929. G. E. MoUNcE 1,729,354

' AEROPLANE Filed Nov. 25, 1927 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2iimlllilililililililillm I N V EN TOR A TTORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 24, 1929 GORDON E. MOUNCE, OF PORTLAND, OREGON IAEROPLANE Application filed November 25, 1927. Serial No. 235,625.

My invention relates broadly to improvements in aeroplanes and moreparticularly to glider aeroplanes which are adapted to be flexibly towedby and controlled from a trac 5 tor aircraft;

My invention relates further to a-towed aeroplane of this characterwhich is particularly constructed and adapted for advertising andilluminated night display purposes while being towed through the air.

Due to the tremendous advertising circulation and attention-holdingfeatures which are possible with aeroplanes-in flight, numerous attemptshave made to adapt illuminated sign characters to the under-sides ofaeroplane Wings as a means of night display and attraction. Suchattempts have been unsuccessful, however, due to the fact that aeroplanes, now in common use, do not lend themselves readily tosuch-changes in wing construction as would be required to properly mountand carry illuminated characters of such size as could be readilydistinguished front the ground when the plane is flying at 2 safealtitudes. I

Aside from the fat it that numerous experiments have proveni'variousmethods of attaching illuminated characters to the under surfaces of thewings to be impractical, due

largely to interference with the proper operation, carrying capacity,and speed of the plane, it has also been found that illuminatedcharacters of such size as could be used, blur and run together, whenobserved from the ground. This low visibility. of illuminatedcharacters, thus displayed, has been found to be due partly to theirrelative small size and the infeasibility of the plane to carry anelectrical generating plant of sufllcient current output to properlyilluminate the characters.

It is therefore, the primary object of my invention to eliminate suchfaults and disadvantages as above pointed out and to provide a simple,eflicient and reliable aircraft which is adapted particularly foradvertising and illuminating display purposes.

It is well known that the red glow from neon lamps is not as readilydiflused in a hazy atmosphere as the light from other illuminants, andit is accordingly an object of my invention to provide an aerial signwhich, for a given size, distance, etc., is more clearly legible thanthose heretofore used. This is important particularly in .view of thefact that, over centres of population where such a sign is generallyused, aeroplanes are not permitted to fly sufliciently close to theground to render ordinary signs clearly decipherable in weather which isat all hazy, while fog or haze is quite common-at night and renders anordinary aerial electric-light sign practically useless.

Another object of my invention is to provide a motorless, towed aircraftwith lateral, directional and longitudinal controls which are adaptedtobe operated from a tractor aircraft.

A further objectof my invention is to provide flexible tow means for aglider of this character, adapted for attachment to a tractor aircraft,through which the controls, of the towed gli er may be operated fromthetractor-aeropl ne.

A still further object of my invention resides in means on the tractoraircraft for 7 positively operating the controls of a glider when takingoff, while in the air and during landing, whereby the controls of theglider may be moved to change the altitude or direction of the gliderindependently of or in conso junction with the operation of the tractoraircraft.

My invention also has for an object to provide means on a towedaeroplane, for interchangeably securing advertising matter I whereby theadvertising matter will be visible from the ground while being towedthrough the air.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an aerial sign oradvertisement that can be extended over a considerably largerarea thanthat provided by the s urfaces of an aeroplane, by the extension of thesign or advertisementover a plurality Of'SllCll towed aeroplanes. I

A further object of my invention is to decrease the fire-hazardincidental to the use of electric signs on aeroplanes, by the spreadingof the sign over the trailer or towed aero- P1ll which, even they apeignited,

. several trailers, or even supply low-voltage current from the tractorplane and transform it to high-voltage only in the several trailers.

Further objects of my invention lie in the formation of a glider,adapted particularly for night advertising, having neon gas filled tubesor lamps arranged in the form of characters, and the means for flexiblysupporting the characters on the under-surface of the plane. Otherobjects and advantages of my invention will be more apparent from thefollowing description and claims.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, which are made. a parthereof, and on which simllar reference characters indicate.

similar parts;

Fig. 1 is an illustrative view in side elevation of my glider sign as itwould appear when being towed through the air by a tractor aeroplane.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1 andillustrating diagrammatically the manner of towing and controlling theglider sign from the tractor aeroplane.

Fig. 3 'is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 andillustrates the manner of connecting the towing means to the tractoraeroplane and the connections for the glider control wires to operatinglevers within the fuselage of the tractor aeroplane.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of my glider sign showing the mounting forilluminated sign letters.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 andillustrates a preferred construction of glider wing and the manner ofattaching the sign mounting to the under surface thereof, and

Fig. 6 is an enlargedfragmentarv view illustrating one of the leverageadjusting horns on the glider controls.

In the drawings the portions indicated as A represent a motor propelledaeroplane of conventional design, hereinafter referred to as a tractoraircraft; B a glider aeroplane which constitutes my improved aerialsign; and C the tow means by which the glider sign is flexibly towed bythe tractor aircraft.

For the purpose of illustration I have shown a tractor aircraft A of thebiplane type having a fuselage 1, at the forward end of which is mounteda motor driven propeller 2 and at the tail end a rudder 3 and elevators4. A pair of vertically spaced wings or planes 5 and 6 are secured oneabove and the .other below the-forward portion of the fuselage 1 and areconnected adjacent their outer ends by struts 7. It is from the base ofthese struts 7 that the glider sign B, now to be described, is towedthrough the medium of tow cables C.

The glider sign comprises preferably a single wing or air foil 8, ofgreater length than is usually provided in the construction of aeroplanewings, to the rear outer ends of which are hinged ailerons 9 and 10. Thecentral portion of the wing 8 extends rearwardly beyond the ailerons andhas hinged at its rear edge a pair of elevators 11 and 12 between whicha rudder 13 is vertically hinged to the rear edge of a stabilizer 14.

The wing 8, of the glider B, may be formed I and constructed inaccordance with any well known or approved practice in aeroplane wingconstruction and for the purpose of illustration have shown in thelongitudinal sectional view in Fig. 5 one of a series of ribs 15 whichare transversely connectedand supported on front and rear beams 16 and17 respectively. A suitable covering 18 is secured to the ribs 15 andencloses. the structural frame, thus providing the upper and lower wingsurfaces.

Within the wing 8 and suitably secured to the ribs 15 is'a series ofguides 19 through which control wires 20 are threaded. The control wires20 extend from the I guides through suitable eyelets in the wingsurfaces and are attached at their rear ends to longitudinallyadjust-able horns 21, which are mounted on the opposite surfaces of theailerons 9 and 10, elevators 11 and 12 and rudder 13. x

In Fig. 6 I have shown in detail one of the horns 21 which consists of ahollow casting in which is longitudinally adjustably mounted a lever 22having an eye 23 at its outer end to which a control wire 20 isattached. A set screw or pin 24 passes through a side wall of the horn21 and is adapted to Near each end of the front beam 16, within the wing8, is secured a pair ofbrackets 25 and 26 which extend through theforward edge of the wing covering 18 and serve as securing means for therear ends of the tow cables C which also extend through the forward edgeof the wing covering. As best shown in Figs of tubular construction andserve as conduits for the control wires 20 which pass from the guides 19into the tubular towing cables C and thence to the control levers 27,28and .29 within the fuselage 1 of the tractor air- 4 and 5 the towcablesrC are fuselage 1, of the tractor aircraft A, in which the controllevers 27, 28 and 29 are adjustably mounted and to which the glidercontrol wires 20 are secured. The towing cables C carrying the controlwires 20 extend from the glider B to the'base of the struts 7 on thetractor aircraft A- where they are detachably secured by means oftubular brackets C and thence across the span of the lower wing and intothe fuselage 1.

It will be readily understood that by ma: nipulation of the levers thecontrols of the glider B may be adjusted from the cockpit of the tractoraircraft A in the same manner as the controls of the tractor aircraftare regulated, and if desired the control Wires 20 may be connected tooperate simultaneously with the controls of the tractor aircraft.

To the under surface of the glider B are secured two or more strips ofwood or metal 30 which extend lengthwise of the wing and to which asign: supporting frame 31 is secured by intermediate spring members 32.The frame 31 consists of two or; more rails 33 which extend transverselyof the wing and in parallel spaced relation. By reference particularlyto Fig. 5 it will be noted that the opposing edges of the rails 33 arechanneled o provide stepped shelves 34 on which the ends of individualsign-letter carrying frames 35 are detachably and interchangeablysecured. i

As explained above, in the objects of the invention, the individual signletters are formed from gas filled glass tubes. These tubes 36 arefashioned in representation of letters of the alphabet, numbers, etc.,and are secured to the frames 35 by metal strips 37 through whichelectric current may be supplied to the tubes from conductors 38 and 39.The conductors 38 and 39 are each provided with a plug adapted forinsertion in any one of the seriesof sockets 40 and 41 arranged in therails 33. Current feeding conductors 42 and 43 are connectedrespectively with each of the series of sockets 40 and 41 and extendthrough the body of the glider B to points adjacent the brackets 25 and26 where the conductors pass through the foravard edgeof the glider andextend to the tractor aircraft parallel with the tow cables C to whichthey are secured by straps. A generator 44 is shown mounted on thetractor aircraft A from which suitable conductors lead to a switch 45 inthe cockpit of the fuse lage and by reference particularly to Figs. 2and 3 it will be noted that the conductors 42 and 43 carried by the towcables C also enter the fuselage 1 and are connected to this switch 45.It will be understood that the genrator 44 may be carried on the gliderB and that suitable batteries for supplying cur rent for the illuminatedsign characters may be substituted for the generator 44.

In the drawings I have shown a preferred form of gli er'sign and a meanswhereby it may be towe and controlled from a tractor aircraft, andlanding and take off devices such as the skids 46 secured to the undersurface of the glider B and extending below the sign. It will beunderstood that the construction shown may be varied to meet conditionsunder which such signs are to be used and operated and further that 'aplurality of such glider signs may be towed and controlled from a singletractor aircraft without departing from the spiritof my invention.

What I claim is 1. A glider aeroplane having means for displaying a signthereon, and means for towingfand controlling said glider from anaircrat.

' 2. A glider aeroplane havin means for displaying a sign thereon,contro s adjustably mounted on said glider, and means for towing andcontrolling said glider from an aircraft. J

3. .A glider aeroplane having means. for displaying a sign thereon,controls adj ustably mounted on said glider, means for towing saidglider from an aircraft, and means for operating saidcontrols from saidaircraft.

4. A glider aeroplane having means for displaying an illuminated sign,means for towing-said glider from an aircraft, means for controllingsame glider from said aircraft, and means for supplying electric currentto said illuminated sign on said glider.

5. A glider aeroplane having means on the under wing side forresiliently supporting an illuminated sign, and landing and take ofdevices secured to said wing and extending below saidsign. c

6. A glider sign comprising an air foil, control means adj ustablymounted on said air f'oil, means on said airfoil for detachably securingsign characters towing means c onnected to said air foil, and means foroperating said control means from said towing means.

7. A glider sign comprising an air foil, control means adjustablymounted on said air foil, means on said air foil for detachably-controls,means for towing said glider from an aircraft, and means foroperating said controls from said tractor aircraft.

9. A glider aeroplane having adjustable controls, towing means connectedadjacent each side of said glider and means supported by one of saidtowing means for operating said controls.

10. In combination with an aircraft, 'a glider sign having adjustablecontrols, flexible tow means connectlng said glider and aircraft,illuminated sign characters carried by 5 saidglider, electriccurrentsupplying means carried by said aircraft, and current conductingmeans and control operating means carried by said tow means.

11. In combination with an aircraft, a

glider aeroplane, and spaced tow means conncodting the wing of theaircraft and the li er.

g In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GORDON E. MOUNCE.

